Mounjaro for Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence, Eligibility
Yes. Mounjaro is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes: for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, it lowers blood sugar when used with diet and exercise. In SURPASS-2, A1C fell 2.3 points on average for people on Mounjaro.
- For type 2 diabetes
- FDA approved
- Active ingredient
- tirzepatide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
- Best result (SURPASS-2)
- A1C down 2.3 points
Mounjaro overview
Its half-life is about 5 days. After 5 d, half is gone. About 3% remains after five half-lives (25 d).
In the SURPASS-1 trial for type 2 diabetes, people lost 7.8 kg over 40 weeks, compared with 1 kg on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars include list prices and self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, pricinginfo.lilly.com.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | For adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, it lowers blood sugar when used with diet and exercise. |
| FDA label | Heart attack, stroke and heart-related death are less likely in adults at high risk who have type 2 diabetes when they take it. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Results from type 2 diabetes trials
Trial sources: SURPASS-1 (PubMed) and SURPASS-2 (PubMed).
What's different for type 2 diabetes?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Low Blood Sugar When You Also Use Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin | The chance of low blood sugar rises when you combine this medicine with insulin or a sulfonylurea, and those doses may need lowering. |
| Diabetic retinopathy complications in patients with a prior history | For people with type 2 diabetes, diabetic eye disease may worsen, especially when blood sugar falls quickly. Eye checks matter if you already have it. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | Taking it with insulin or a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide or glimepiride, makes low blood sugar more likely. The doctor may lower those doses. |
As stated in the FDA labels: FDA label on DailyMed.
These warnings are based on the FDA (DailyMed) label.
Coverage for type 2 diabetes
Medicare Part D may cover these medicines when they are prescribed for diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
The listed sources are: humana.com.
- Mounjaro Coupon and Savings Card
- Mounjaro Price
- Cheapest Way to Get Mounjaro
- Mounjaro Cost Without Insurance
- Mounjaro Cost With Insurance
- Mounjaro Insurance Coverage
- Does Medicare Cover Mounjaro? Part D Rules, the Bridge, Copays
- Does BCBS Cover Mounjaro? Diabetes-Only Rules by Plan, Appeals
- Mounjaro Patient Assistance
Alternatives for type 2 diabetes
| Medicine | For type 2 diabetes | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 2.3 points |
 Ozempic | FDA approved | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Rybelsus | FDA approved | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Trulicity | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 1.77 points |
 Victoza | FDA approved | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | FDA approved | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Not an approved use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
 Zepbound | Not an approved use | weekly injection | 14.7% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not an approved use | daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
 Saxenda | Not an approved use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), PubMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Will I need changes to my other diabetes medicines, especially insulin or a sulfonylurea?
- How often should I get eye checks, can you tell me?
- Which A1C target should I aim for?